Not sure if this is a :honda: or not but heard on the radio tonight on the way home in Sacramento and Artie Gigantino said Ken Whisenhunt will be brought in for an interview either Tuesday or Wednesday. Sorry, no link since it was just a radio interview.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...SPG9IH41CU1.DTLSuper coach to meet Davis
Whisenhunt flying to Oakland
Nancy Gay, Chronicle Staff Writer
Tuesday, February 7, 2006
Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is expected to participate in Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XL victory parade today and then make his way to the Bay Area to interview for the Raiders' head-coaching position as early as Wednesday morning, a person close to Whisenhunt confirmed.
The Raiders are the last of eight teams in the NFL to fill their head-coaching vacancy and they waited out two weeks of Super Bowl buildup to get a crack at Whisenhunt, 43, whose efficient, yet somewhat unorthodox game plan Sunday night produced three touchdowns in a 21-10 victory over Seattle in Detroit.
Raiders owner Al Davis is expected to receive official permission from the Steelers to interview Whisenhunt sometime this morning. The popular second-year offensive coordinator, who has spent nine seasons as an NFL assistant, could arrive in the Bay Area by tonight.
Whisenhunt's Super Bowl game plan is sure to draw raves from Davis. Even though second-year Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger struggled at times, the strategy was an effective mix of the run, play-action passing and an eye-opening 43-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Antwaan Randle El to the game's MVP, Hines Ward, with 8:56 remaining.
The Raiders have been without a head coach since Norv Turner was dismissed Jan. 3. Since then, they have formally interviewed four candidates to replace him. None was considered an ideal prospect. Al Saunders eventually accepted a $2 million-plus annual salary to become the Redskins' offensive coordinator. Rod Marinelli, the Buccaneers' former defensive line coach, accepted the Detroit opening. Chargers receivers coach James Lofton was the only minority candidate to interview.
The Raiders also spoke to former Rams coach Mike Martz, who initiated the contact. But Davis quickly lost interest in him as a head-coaching prospect.
E-mail Nancy Gay at ngay@sfchronicle.com.